Arsenal's Mustafi gets thumbs up from Redknapp

Cape Town - Former Liverpool and Tottenham Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp believes that the North London club have finally found the man who can form a great partnership with Laurent Koscielny in the form of Shkodran Mustafi.

Since the departure of Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona in 2014 Arsenal have struggled to find a centre-back to partner the France international.

Mustafi and Koscielny were impressive as Arsenal romped to a 3-0 win over rivals Chelsea at the Emirates on Saturday, with the Blues' Diego Costa cutting a frustrated figure, having been neutralized by the Gunners' defensive pairing.

Redknapp wrote in the Daily Mail: "Arsenal's centre-backs have been too easily bullied in recent years by Didier Drogba and Diego Costa. On Saturday afternoon, Shkodran Mustafi wasn't having any of it. 

"He showed so much quality alongside Laurent Koscielny and for the first time in a long time it looks like Arsenal have found a great centre-back partnership.

"The pair are both quick and good in the air. They are strong in both boxes and will threaten from set pieces, too."

The opening-day defensive meltdown against Liverpool seemed a world away when Mustafi and Koscielny frustrated the Chelsea attack over the weekend, but the lack of depth in the position will remain a concern for Arsene Wenger.